while thinking about a bunch of new ideas yesterday, I realized that I've never actually given a full critique to this set, only about a few specific cards, and I really feel like doing that (also I need to get my mind off football). there will be a lot of praising, but not exclusively.
I've only played with a bunch of them though. doing so has made me think about own ideas and then I rather played with those. but whatever, first impressions aren't completely irrelevant. But I'm very aware that I'm criticizing cards that you know much more about than I. That's the usual dilemma though. Anyway...
Clerk is obviously a great card. It's simple, it's unique, it's interesting, and it's probably balanced, although it's clearly more useful than pearl driver in almost every situation. it's one of the cards that make me think "oh why couldn't I come up with that first"
Jubilee is pretty good I think. it's probably most interesting if you play with several trade token cards. I know that you're one of the guys who likes to do stuff like play with 5base/5enterprise instead of just going full random all the time. but it seems okay even without others. not the most exciting thing ever, but it's nice.
Redistrict is... dunno. I think it's harder to judge than the ones before it. It doesn't look exciting to me, but it's possible that I'd like it more if I played with it.
Barrister is... hm. I don't really know, it might be really fun and satisfying to steal domains. it's another one that's hard to judge. power wise it seems okay in 2player, probably more on the weak side, but much better in 3+.
Gambler is the first card I really dislike. It just seems like adding swinginess just because it's fun and exciting and cool if you're lucky. If it works, it's really strong, about as good as Junk dealer early on and even better later in the game. But if you hit your other t1/2 buy the first time you play it, you probably lost the game right there. eh. I haven't played with it, but that has to be how it goes, right? but well that's just me, the card has 5 stars and you said lots of people like it. you don't have to like every card.
Guide is really cool. I've played a bunch of games with it. something about the card appeals to me even beyond the fact that it's fairly unique and perfectly balanced. maybe it's just that using it twice is so much fun.
Mill Town is amazing. it's probably my favorite fan made card. it's so simple, but it's such a cool concept. I would marry Mill Town if I could
Refurbish is a card that makes me wonder why Donald X hasn't done it. "Trash a card from your hand, gain a silver" almost had to have been considered at some point, and making it a silversmith seems like the perfect bonus to add. Maybe he felt like that area is explored with bank and coppersmith. Anyway, it's a great card. basically a classic. well not really, but it should be.
I'm sceptical about
Committee, but that might be cause I never played with it. It just seems really strong. It's also not that unique, it's a terminal silver with a fairly interesting plus. But it's certainly not bad.
Craftsman looks alright. My only concern about it is that it offers you an easy way to get to five without adding terminals or silvers that's (deliberately?) absent from official dominion (well there is feast but feast sucks). It looks like made for SCSN, but I always thought the silver dilemma adds a lot to the game. Uh, dunno. I've played with the old one I think, but not with this version.
Dignitary is good I think. There are already card which try to help with the "terminal draw draws dead actions" dilemma, and this seems like a reasonable take on it. The reaction is cute.
Floodgate is slick! Great card! It makes me jealous. It's another of those "simple cards that are left to make"
The
Recruiter/
Conscripts concept feels like it's hard to judge (haven't played it, I didn't like it at first glance). It's a card that gets you another card that attacks. Why that detour? well there are certainly some reasons. I don't hate it. It might be great.
Terrace is cool. It's an obvious idea after you have the trade token setup, and it can only make people happy. I instantly liked it, played with it, and it was good as expected.
Vendor sort of seems like a filler. You could probably do lot of variations that would work out, but I guess there's nothing wrong with having one of them around. It seems good, but it doesn't seem to fill an important role.
Axeman is nice. Unique attacks that aren't stupid are always nice. Another thing that could have been done. I certainly think there's space left to explore, Inquisition is inspired by this one, and it's a little bit similar.
Barracks is well what I said about Conscripts. The second option is cute though, and the first option is a good way to make sure the second option can continue to be cute. That probably makes Barracks cute too.
I already commented about
Convocation. This card had to be made, and you made it.
Exchange is similar to Redisctrict in appeal. It's a remodel variant, it might be fine, but it's not immediately appealing... I think I played with this once, but I don't remember how it went. I think it was fine.
Fund wipes the floor with Royal Seal and Stash. I think it's about time we get a silver+ for 5$ that doesn't suck. You'll feel much better picking up a Fund if you miss 6$ than you will picking up a Stash. Good card.
General doesn't appeal to me, or maybe I just don't get it. If the throned card isn't a one-shot, it's a sheme+throne room, which is just adding two effects together. If it is, it's a sheme+throne room that's probably kind of broken. Why is that worth making?
Lodge is out if I recall correctly. I assume it was uninteresting. Doesn't seem terrible though.
Wheelwright is out too I think? I didn't like it, it's just making it too easy for you. Discarding cards before refilling your hand is something you should work for I think. Was this the reason you dropped it? some other reason?
... and I already commented about Auction and Cathedral.
hey I didn't even praise that much
